A race to your heart (Zarry AU)

11.- Us. 🏁

Harry's POV

I stood outside Zayn's hotel suite, hesitating as I stared at the door. The luxurious surroundings of the hotel were lost on me as a wave of uncertainty washed over me. I didn't like the effect Zayn had on me. It made me feel exposed and vulnerable.

He had called me repeatedly, each time coaxing me to come over, and now here I was. Reluctant as ever, I stood there debating whether to turn back to my room. I hated being alone, especially now, after the breakup with Emily. It had been inevitable. The moment I received the offer from Ferrari, I knew I couldn't juggle a new team, a girlfriend, and... My undeniable feelings for Zayn. It wasn't fair for her.

I was still lost in thought when the door swung open.

"Hey," Zayn greeted, his voice sending a jolt through me. He looked me up and down, making me feel as though I was standing there naked. "You look gorgeous." he let out with a smirk.

I had changed outfits at least three times before settling on this one, trying to strike the right balance between casual and not trying too hard.

"Erm... hey, thanks," I mumbled, the words barely escaping my dry throat.

His smirk, that damn smirk, only added to his already godlike features. It didn't help that he was fresh out of the shower, wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his hips. His wet hair clung to his forehead, and droplets of water trailed down the hard lines of his chest.

"You were leaving already?" he asked, catching me off guard.

"Erm... no, of course not," I quickly lied, stepping into the suite that was identical to mine—a master suite with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of Barcelona at night.

"I'm glad you came. I've ordered some food from the restaurant. Why don't you grab some bubbly while I get dressed?" Zayn suggested, planting a quick kiss on my cheek before disappearing into the bedroom.

He left the sliding door slightly ajar, and my eyes were drawn to the sight of him casually tossing aside the towel. His body was a work of art, and I cursed under my breath as a wave of heat rushed through me. I quickly turned away, shaking my head as if to clear my mind.

I kicked off my boots and headed straight for the champagne, popping the cork and pouring myself a glass. I felt like I needed it to steady my nerves. I took a sip, the cold, bubbly liquid soothing my dry throat, and reached for a juicy strawberry to complement the taste. My thoughts were anywhere but peaceful though.

"Thanks for being here, babe," Zayn murmured, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. His lips brushed against my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

"Zayn..." I began, my voice trailing off as his familiar warmth overwhelmed my senses.

"You smell delicious. So you. I missed you," he whispered, his breath hot against my neck skin.

"Wait..." I tried to stop him, needing some space to think.

"What's wrong?" Zayn asked, pulling away slightly, surprise flickering in his eyes.

"Are we... gonna talk about what happened?" I asked, my voice tinged with frustration and confusion.

"About what happened?" he asked, feigning innocence as he reached for a glass of champagne himself.

"Zayn... why didn't you answer any of my texts or calls? You ghosted me, and didn't even bother to tell me about your deal with Mercedes?" I let out, my emotions bubbling to the surface as I slammed my empty glass down on the table.

"I didn't want to jinx it, and after I closed the deal, I thought it would be a nice surprise for you," Zayn replied with a casual shrug as if it were the most natural thing in the world.